GEORGIA'S CRCT Criterion-Referenced Competency Test

Georgia’s CRCT
Criterion-Referenced Competency
Test
1 st –5 th Grades
April 27 – May 1, 2009

What is the purpose of the CRCT?
• The CRCT measures how well a
student acquires the skills and
knowledge described in the
Georgia curriculum.
• The test gives information on
academic achievement at the
student, class, school, system
and state levels.

Who takes the CRCT?
• Georgia law requires that the
CRCT be given each year to all
students who are enrolled in
first through eighth grade in
Georgia public schools.

What areas are tested?
• 1 st and 2 nd grade students are
tested in Reading, Language
Arts and Math.
• 3rd – 5 th grade students are
tested in Reading, Language
Arts, Math, Science and Social
Studies.

What is a passing score?
• Scores at or above 850 indicate a level
of performance that Exceeds the
Standard set for the test. (Level 3)
• Scores from 800 – 849 indicate a level
of performance that Meets the
Standard set for the test. (Level 2)
• Scores below 800 indicate a level of
performance that Does Not Meet the
Standard set for the test. (Level 1)

What is the 3 rd Grade Promotion
Criteria?
• The Georgia law currently states that a
student in 3 rd grade must score at or
above the 800 mark in the area of
Reading in order to be promoted to
the 4 th grade.
• If a student does not score an 800
he/she will be given the opportunity to
attend Summer School and retake the
Reading portion of the CRCT at the
end of summer school.

What is the 5 th Grade Promotion
Criteria?
• 5 th grade students must score at
or above the 800 mark in the
areas of Reading and Math in
order to be promoted to 6 th grade.
• Summer Remediation is available
for those who do not score the
minimum of 800 in Reading or
Math.

What happens if my child fails the
CRCT Retest in grade 3 and 5?
• The student will be retained and the
parents will be notified.
• The parent has the right to appeal the
decision to retain the student. A
placement committee will meet to
look at their overall academic
achievement. The decision to retain,
place or promote the child to the next
grade must be a unanimous decision.
The decision of the placement
committee is final.

Other points about the CRCT
• The 1 st and 2 nd grade test is
scripted which means that the
teacher reads all of the test to the
students except for the Reading
passages. Also, the teacher can
only read the questions two times.
• 1 st and 2 nd grade students bubble
the answers directly in their test
booklets.

Other Points about the CRCT
• 3 rd –5 th grade students will use
an answer sheet to mark their
answers, but can make notes and
calculations in their test booklets
if needed.
• Failing CRCT scores arrive back
before the last day of school so
summer school arrangements
can be made.

Testing Tips for Parents
• Make sure your child gets a good
night’s sleep before the test.
• Make sure the “morning routine” is as
non-stressful as possible.
• Make sure your child has a good
breakfast on test days.
• Remind your child to listen carefully
to instructions from the teacher and
to read the directions and each
question carefully.

Testing Tips for Parents
continued:
• Do not schedule any morning
dentist or doctor appointments
the week of the test.
• Make sure your child has
anything they may need - such as
glasses, hearing aids or
medication.
• If your child is truly sick, do not
send him to school. We have 3
make up days.

Testing Tips for Parents
continued:
• Practice reading endurance –
which means reading many long
passages during one session.
(Many of the children tire out
midway through the test)
• Practice basic facts between now
and test time.
• Build up your child by letting him
know that you are proud of him
and know he will do his best.

Practice at Home
Students can practice for the tests on the
CRCT Online now! The student
usernames and passwords were sent
home in December. Contact your
student's homeroom teacher if you need
that information sent home again. The
practice will allow students to become
more familiar with the format of the test
so that they will be able to perform to
their best ability in April!
http://www.georgiaoas.org

Where can I get more
information?
You can learn more about the
CRCT by visiting the Georgia
Department of Education web site.
http://www.doe.k12.ga.us

Testing Information on DOE
Web Site

Testing Division Home Page

How to Access Center’s Testing
Website
• Go to http://www.ware.k12.ga.us
• Under the “Select Schools” menu click on
“Center Elementary”.

How to Access Center’s
Testing Website
• Click on the “Testing” tab in the table.

How to Access Center’s
Testing Website
• Clicking on the “Testing” tab in the table will
bring you to this.

OAS for Parents
• Parents can access reports
from tests their children have
taken by logging in as the
student and viewing reports.
• Reports are all aligned to the
state standards so success on
these assessments shows
ability on the state curriculum.